You didn’t really think Cyrus Beene would be kept down for very long, did you?
By the end of Scandal Season 5 Episode 5, our favorite duplicitous White House administration member was right back where he believes he belongs: in the driver’s seat.
We opened this dramatic hour with the staff wondering what defines an “impeachable offense,” and Fitz certainly thinking that a date with his mistress does not quality.
But David reminds the President that Congress has all the power here and he could use the help of a top-notch attorney.
Enter Patty Snell, who asks for “trucks full of files” to distract Congress and who means serious business.
Olivia also needs assistance, turning to Leo Bergen while she’s banned from talking to Fitz. He suggests spinning her affair with the Commander-in-Chief into a fairy tale romance.
From there, the Gladiators worked to rehab their boss’ image, hoping to turn her into a human being… as opposed to a “man-eating, husband-stealing” vixen.
So Olivia sucks it up and visits ex-flame Senator Edison Davis. He agrees to go along with her story as long as she admits she never loves him. She does so and he follow through with his part of the deal, accusing he media of racism and sexism.
This does the trick (and makes Cyrus very happy), until the press finds the diamond ring Fitz for for Olivia. (Courtesy of Mellie, as you probably guessed.)
As for Jake? Olivia stops by his place and meets his “old friend,” Elise. (He later admits she’s his wife).
He warns Olivia about being “tied to the White House forever” if she keeps pushing the love story angle and Olivia considers these words.
But she then faces the press and, through tears, asks people not to “ask me to fall out of love with Fitzgerald Grant.”
Marcus, meanwhile, as threatened by Senators Allen and Moskowitz to spy on Olivia or else they’ll go after him and his brother. But Marcus works the politicians and eventually the Gladiators learn that the committee knows about West Angola.
They know that Fitz was willing to go to war for the sake of his mistress. Now THAT is an impeachable offense.
And Fitz knows that Cyrus would sell him out in a heartbeat. So he calls him to the White House and he’s forced to give in to all of his demands:
Cyrus wants to be Chief of Staff again… he wants a Presidential pardon… and he wants Elizabeth fired.
Where will all this go on Scandal Season 5 Episode 6?
Check out the official teaser below and go watch Scandal online if you need to catch up before next Thursday.